The Unyielding Courage of Lava and Kusha

Shatrughna unleashed a barrage of arrows at the boys and commanded his soldiers to engage in battle. A fierce confrontation ensued. Lava and Kusha demonstrated the skills imparted to them by their guru, Maharshi Valmiki. Their arrows seldom missed their mark. Eventually, they overpowered Shatrughna and his entire army.

When Lakshmana heard that two young boys had defeated Shatrughna, he sought Rama's permission to confront them. Upon seeing the handsome boys, Lakshmana suspected they had captured the horse as a mere prank. He attempted to persuade them to release the horse without resorting to violence. The boys smiled but declined, feeling insulted that Lakshmana underestimated their abilities. Kusha then shot an arrow at Lakshmana’s crown.

Lakshmana was taken aback by their audacity. Before he could react, Kusha’s arrow struck his crown, knocking it to the ground. Furious, Lakshmana could no longer restrain himself. A seasoned warrior who had once vanquished Indrajit, Lakshmana retaliated by shooting arrows at Lava and Kusha. However, the boys were equally formidable and deflected every one of Lakshmana’s arrows.

Lakshmana was astounded. Kusha then launched a powerful arrow that Lakshmana could not withstand. His morale shattered, Lakshmana conceded defeat but was eager to learn the identity of these boys. Were they divine beings sent from Svarga? Questions flooded Lakshmana’s mind. Yet, he could not return in disgrace; he needed to free the horse for Rama's yagya to succeed.

To avert disaster, Lakshmana invoked Rama and released an arrow that injured Kush, causing him to fall to the ground. Lava, observing his brother's valor from a distance, was distressed when he saw Kusha lying wounded. He meditated upon Maharshi Valmiki for his brother’s recovery. Kush immediately rose and prepared to continue the fight. Confident in the skills he had learned from his guru, he even praised Lakshmana’s bravery. Impressed by Kusha's composure, Lakshmana found himself pleased.

But Kusha had no choice but to use one of the powerful weapons bestowed upon him by his guru, Valmiki. Struck by this arrow, Lakshmana fell to the ground.

Rama’s soldiers, having never encountered such courageous boys, were frightened to death and fled the battlefield. They returned to Rama, reporting that they had left Lakshmana injured on the field, and pleaded for his forgiveness. Hearing the soldiers’ account of the brave youths, Rama summoned Bharata. Bharata, who revered his elder brother Rama above all else, approached with folded hands.